So how do you weigh the risks of the insects with the risks of the chemicals engineered to keep them away? Is there a natural bug repellent that works?

“This is a hard issue,” says Sonya Lunder, MPH, a senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group in Washington D.C. “It’s one that I’ve gone through many times before, both as an expert in toxics and as a parent.”

I bought a small bottle of citronella essential oil from a health food store. I put a couple of squirts of lotion into my hand, then add 2 or 3 drops of the oil, rub it all together and then slather it on. I have to reapply after a while, maybe 30-60 minutes or so, but it does seem to work pretty well and IMHO is better than putting poisonous chemicals on my skin. It doesn't aggravate my asthma like DEET does, and smells a lot better too. This method also moisturizes my skin, which tends to be dry and eczema-prone. The citronella oil cost only a few dollars and it goes a long way.

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